Camogie Association offer play-off game to Clare and Dublin as 'coin toss' fixture descends into farce

29 July 2015 04:38 PM

Dublin manager Shane O'Brien has described the coin toss as "ludicrous"

The Camogie Association have offered Clare and Dublin the chance to play their controversial 'coin toss' fixture this weekend.

Both counties withdrew from today's proposed coin toss to decide who would qualify from Group 2 of the Liberty Insurance Senior Camogie Championship.

Clare's recent 4-19 to 1-6 win over Derry at Cusack Park drew Colm Honan's charges level with Dublin in third place and it remains to be seen which of those will now play Wexford in one of the two All-Ireland quarter-finals.

Both counties objected strongly to a coin toss deciding who would progress but the Camogie Association had ruled that their objections cannot be heard and that the tie-breaking procedure must stand.

But following the withdrawal of both counties from this year's Championship, the Association has performed a U-turn and have now pencilled in August 1 as the day when they will meet on the field to decide who will meet Wexford.

The Camogie Associaion releases a statement a short time ago confirming the news.

"The Camogie Association have confirmed that it is offering a play-off game to Clare and Dublin to take place on Saturday, August 1st at 2.00pm in Semple Stadium, Thurles," it read.

"The winners of this game will proceed to the quarter-final to play Wexford on Monday, August 3rd with a time and venue to be confirmed.

"The Camogie Association Ard Chomhairle took the decision in order to find a solution to the impasse which arose after both Clare and Dublin Camogie Boards withdrew, after objecting to the pre-determined competition procedures to identify the fourth quarter-finalist in the Liberty Insurance Senior All-Ireland Championship.

"Extra-time will be played in the event of the play-off ending in a draw, while extra-time will also apply in the Senior quarter-final on August 3rd."

Although the 'coin toss' rule was a pre-determined rule, both Clare and Dublin voiced their opinions against the idea.

The procedure was branded as “ludicrous” by Dublin manager Shane O’Brien.

"The Executive of the Dublin County Board held a meeting on Tuesday 28 July and took the decision to withdraw it’s name from the drawing of lots (Coin Toss) to decide which team Dublin/Clare should progress to the quarter final stages of this year's Senior All-Ireland Championship.," a Dublin statement read.

The Banner have also decided to follow suit and accused the Association of showing "contempt and disdain" by sticking to their guns with the coin toss.

Both teams had offered to play the match to determine a winner.

"The Camogie Association has demonstrated their utter contempt and disdain for every player and member of the Association. How can a governing sporting body justify by any logic the Drawing of Lots (coin toss) to determine progression in Championship?" the strongly worded statement read.

"Clare Camogie demands more respect for its players and administrators than what is being levelled at them by the Camogie Association officials."